Buta, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Buta is a city in the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, lying on the Rubi River, a tributary of the Itimbiri River. It is the capital of Bas-Uele province. As of 2012, it had an estimated population of 55,313.

It is home to the Buta Zega Airport.

Buta lies on the defunct narrow gauge Vicicongo line built by the Société des Chemins de Fer Vicinaux du Congo that ran east from Aketi on the Itimbiri River past Buta to Zobia, Isiro and Mungbere. The line ran from Kotili to Buta and onward to Andoma The line reached Buta on 1 July 1931. A branch line to Titulé via Andoma opened on 11 November 1932. Buta became an operational center for Vicicongo.

History
In early 2005, the town was the centre of an outbreak of pulmonary plague.

Education
Buta has many primary schools for students aged 6 to 14. After primary school is secondary school. Secondary school students are admitted into a 2 year orientation designed to deepen their understanding of what they learnt in primary school during their 7th and 8th year of school. This orientation period also allows students to choose more specific studies to focus their education. The school also offers a 4 year study period post-orientation before students go to university.